Dow Mossman
Encyclopedia
Dow Mossman, born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
, is an American
writer
.
Mossman studied at Coe College
for two years, finished college at the University of Iowa
and received his M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
in 1969. His novel, The Stones of Summer
, was published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1972 and Popular Library
a year later. Following the publication of The Stones of Summer
, Dow was mentally exhausted and spent several months in an Iowa sanitorium. The novel soon went out of print. One of the unique elements included in the novel are poems and letters from Vietnam sent by Marine officer, Dan Guenther
, (U.of Iowa, MFA, 1973) who later published the novels China Wind (Ivy,1990) and Dodge City Blues (Redburn Press, 2007).
Mossman occasionally plays snooker
at a local taproom and never misses a sale at the Cedar Rapids Library, which has provided him with reading treasures such as several years of bound Century Magazines from the 1890s, and an 1867 translation of Don Quixote which he feels captures Cervantes
better than any other. Mossman is an avid Chicago Cubs
fan and rides a motorcycle.
The film shows Mossman currently living in the home he grew up in, which is filled with books. According to the film, Mossman writes on the porch, and is currently working on a book based on notes he has taken from watching hundreds of old movies. In addition to that book, he is also working on a book of poetry. Mossman lists the memoirs of Casanova as his favorite literary work. As a child, Dow read the Bible, and the complete novels of Arthur Conan Doyle
. He describes his reading as pretty "a-list."
Prior to Stone Reader, Dow had been employed for 19 years as a welder. He subsequently quit to look after his aging mother, who later died, after which he returned to work as a paper bundler for the local newspaper. After the film's release, The Stones of Summer
was re-published by Barnes & Noble. He is now semi-retired.
Poets & Writers Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Cedar Rapids is the second largest city in Iowa and is the county seat of Linn County. The city lies on both banks of the Cedar River, north of Iowa City and east of Des Moines, the state's capital and largest city...
, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
Mossman studied at Coe College
Coe College
Coe College is a private, four-year, liberal arts college in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Founded in 1851, the institution is historically affiliated with the Presbyterian Church . Its current president is James R. Phifer. It is one of the smaller universities to have a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa...
for two years, finished college at the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
and received his M.F.A. from the Iowa Writers' Workshop
Iowa Writers' Workshop
The Program in Creative Writing, more commonly known as the Iowa Writers' Workshop, at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa, is a highly regarded graduate-level creative writing program in the United States...
in 1969. His novel, The Stones of Summer
The Stones of Summer
The Stones of Summer is a novel by American writer Dow Mossman. Both the novel and Mossman are also subjects of Mark Moskowitz's Slamdance award-winning film, Stone Reader....
, was published by Bobbs-Merrill in 1972 and Popular Library
Popular Library
Popular Library was a New York paperback book company established in 1942 by Leo Margulies and Ned Pines, who at the time was a major pulp magazine, newspapers and magazine publishers...
a year later. Following the publication of The Stones of Summer
The Stones of Summer
The Stones of Summer is a novel by American writer Dow Mossman. Both the novel and Mossman are also subjects of Mark Moskowitz's Slamdance award-winning film, Stone Reader....
, Dow was mentally exhausted and spent several months in an Iowa sanitorium. The novel soon went out of print. One of the unique elements included in the novel are poems and letters from Vietnam sent by Marine officer, Dan Guenther
Dan Guenther
Dan Guenther, born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1944, is an American writer. A graduate of Coe College, he has a Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He was a captain in the U.S. Marine Corps...
, (U.of Iowa, MFA, 1973) who later published the novels China Wind (Ivy,1990) and Dodge City Blues (Redburn Press, 2007).
Mossman occasionally plays snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
at a local taproom and never misses a sale at the Cedar Rapids Library, which has provided him with reading treasures such as several years of bound Century Magazines from the 1890s, and an 1867 translation of Don Quixote which he feels captures Cervantes
Cervantes
-People:*Alfonso J. Cervantes , mayor of St. Louis, Missouri*Francisco Cervantes de Salazar, 16th-century man of letters*Ignacio Cervantes, Cuban composer*Jorge Cervantes, a world-renowned expert on indoor, outdoor, and greenhouse cannabis cultivation...
better than any other. Mossman is an avid Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
fan and rides a motorcycle.
Stone Reader
In 2002, Mossman was the subject of a documentary film by Mark Moskowitz, Stone Reader, (ISBN 156730334x)which chronicled the director's attempt to resuscitate the acclaimed book and speak to its seemingly vanished author.The film shows Mossman currently living in the home he grew up in, which is filled with books. According to the film, Mossman writes on the porch, and is currently working on a book based on notes he has taken from watching hundreds of old movies. In addition to that book, he is also working on a book of poetry. Mossman lists the memoirs of Casanova as his favorite literary work. As a child, Dow read the Bible, and the complete novels of Arthur Conan Doyle
Arthur Conan Doyle
Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle DL was a Scottish physician and writer, most noted for his stories about the detective Sherlock Holmes, generally considered a milestone in the field of crime fiction, and for the adventures of Professor Challenger...
. He describes his reading as pretty "a-list."
Prior to Stone Reader, Dow had been employed for 19 years as a welder. He subsequently quit to look after his aging mother, who later died, after which he returned to work as a paper bundler for the local newspaper. After the film's release, The Stones of Summer
The Stones of Summer
The Stones of Summer is a novel by American writer Dow Mossman. Both the novel and Mossman are also subjects of Mark Moskowitz's Slamdance award-winning film, Stone Reader....
was re-published by Barnes & Noble. He is now semi-retired.
External sources
The Observer (2003, Aug. 3). On the trail of a lost genius. [Review, "The Stone Reader"].Poets & Writers Magazine, Nov/Dec 2003